London terror plot shows Vincy connection

While investigations continue into the failed plot to blow up close to a dozen transatlantic jets over five major US cities with liquid explosives new leads have brought St. Vincent and the Grenadines into the spotlight.

With 12 suspects now being held for questioning by officials from London Metropolitan Police, information reaching Searchlight indicates that one of the suspects arrested is believed to have roots in the fishing town of Layou. {{more}}

Searchlight has learnt that 28-year-old Umar Islam is the son of Vincentian natives Lemuel, also known as Constance, and Sylvia Young who left these shores in the 1960’s and migrated to High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire – a rural district some 55 kilometres west of London – in the United Kingdom.

Umar formerly Brian Oliver Young was born on April 23 in 1977 in High Wycombe to the Vincentians after their marriage in 1965.

Searchlight sources revealed that Brian, now Umar, is believed to have changed his name while following the teachings of Islam and married a Muslim woman with whom he shares a child.

It is believed that the parents of the 28-year-old suspect were unaware of his whereabouts during the events leading up to his arrest.

Sources say Umar or Brian was employed as a ticket inspector for the London transportation system at the time of his arrest.

When Searchlight contacted one relative, Carlton Young, a 77-year-old man of Layou, he expressed disappointment over his relative’s alleged connection to the incident.

“I feel like I am out this world to know a ‘fella’ you are related to have found himself in such a plot. Everywhere you go in the world people would be looking at you,” the man told Searchlight.

According to Young, “The whole thing about it is it’s a stain to know your family member have planned such a disastrous thing.”

Umar or Brian, along with 11 others, has been detained and charged with conspiracy to murder and intentions to commit acts of terrorism. So far eight of those have been charged with conspiracy to murder and preparing acts of terrorism.

If 10 planes had been targeted, it would have been by far the most ambitious terror plot since the September 11 2001 attacks in the US which killed more than 2,700 people.

In June this year a 23-year-old Vincentian-Canadian was reportedly among 17 people busted for allegedly planning a terrorist attack on Canada.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported, then, that Jahmaal James, of Scarborough, Ontario, the son of Vincentian Ivor James who emigrated from St. Vincent almost thirty years ago was assisting them with investigations into the incident.